Doctor-led Radiesse treatment in Bedford
Radiesse is a collagen-stimulating injectable that can provide immediate structural support while encouraging your skin to produce new collagen over time. Every treatment at Rejuvena is personally assessed and performed by Dr Nick following a detailed consultation and facial assessment.
- Doctor-led treatment
- Structural support & collagen stimulation
- Personalised treatment planning
- Bedford clinic
Radiesse is more than a filler. It provides immediate structural support while stimulating collagen over time. As it cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase, precise, medically led treatment is essential.
What is Radiesse?
Radiesse is an injectable calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) biostimulatory dermal filler that provides immediate structural support and stimulates the skin’s own collagen production over the following months. Manufactured by Merz Aesthetics, it is composed of smooth CaHA microspheres, approximately 25–45 microns in size, suspended in a sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gel carrier — approximately 30% microspheres and 70% gel.
CaHA is a biocompatible mineral with a composition similar to the mineral naturally found in bone. Radiesse contains no animal- or human-derived material, and routine allergy skin testing is not normally required.
This gives Radiesse its dual action. The gel carrier provides the initial correction, while the CaHA microspheres provide a scaffold that supports fibroblast activity and the production of new collagen, elastin and other components of the extracellular matrix. Over time, the gel carrier is absorbed and the CaHA microspheres are gradually broken down, while newly formed collagen contributes to longer-term improvements in contour and skin quality.
Unlike treatments based primarily on hyaluronic acid, Radiesse combines immediate structural correction with a longer-term biostimulatory effect. At Rejuvena, every Radiesse treatment is personally assessed, planned and performed by Dr Nick (MBBS, MRCGP, Diploma in Dermatology, GMC 6072251).
Standard Radiesse vs hyperdilute Radiesse
Radiesse can be prepared and used in different ways depending on the treatment objective.
Standard Radiesse is used when immediate structural support, contour or volume is required — for example, to define the jawline and chin, support selected areas of the cheeks, or improve the appearance of early jowling and facial folds.
Hyperdilute Radiesse is mixed with a suitable diluent and distributed more widely through the tissues. In this form, it is used primarily as a collagen-stimulating treatment to improve skin firmness, thickness and texture, with little or no intended volumising effect. It may be used for selected patients with crepey or lax skin affecting areas such as the neck, hands and décolletage.
Hyperdilute use is described in peer-reviewed consensus guidance on hyperdiluted Radiesse.
The most appropriate preparation and treatment technique — if Radiesse is suitable at all — is determined following a detailed consultation and assessment with Dr Nick.
What can Radiesse treat?
Radiesse is a versatile treatment that can be used to restore structural support, improve facial contour or stimulate collagen across areas of thinning or crepey skin. The preparation, dilution and injection technique are selected according to the treatment area and the result you want to achieve.
Jawline, chin and lower face
Standard Radiesse can provide structural support and improve definition along the jawline and chin. In appropriately selected patients, it may also soften the appearance of early jowling and improve lower-face contour.
Cheeks and mid-face
Radiesse may be used in selected areas of the cheeks to replace structural support and improve facial contour. It is not intended to create excessive volume, and treatment is carefully planned around your individual facial anatomy.
Neck and décolletage
Diluted or hyperdiluted Radiesse can be distributed more widely beneath the skin to stimulate collagen and improve the appearance of crepey texture, fine lines and mild skin laxity.
Hands
Radiesse may be used to restore volume to the backs of the hands or, when diluted, to support improvements in skin quality and firmness.
Not every treatment area or technique will be suitable for every patient. Some diluted or hyperdiluted applications may be outside the product's specific licensed indications. Where this applies, Dr Nick will explain this clearly during your consultation and obtain appropriate consent.
Calcium hydroxylapatite & collagen stimulation
Radiesse works in two phases: an immediate lift from the gel carrier, then a longer collagen-building phase as your body responds to the CaHA microsphere scaffold.
Immediate lift
On injection, the carboxymethylcellulose gel carrier provides instant volume and lift. This is the result you can see straight away — though some of it is the gel and a little transient swelling, which settles over the first two to three weeks.
- Best for Jawline, chin, jowls, cheeks, folds
- Onset Visible immediately
- Settling 2–3 weeks
Long-term collagen
Over the following weeks the gel is absorbed, leaving the CaHA microspheres as a three-dimensional scaffold. Fibroblasts colonise it and produce new collagen (types I and III), elastin and supporting matrix. The microspheres are then gradually broken down into calcium and phosphate and metabolised normally — what remains is your own new tissue.
- Builds over ~2–3 months
- Stimulates Collagen, elastin, matrix
- Result Your own tissue, not the filler
Skin-quality firming
Diluted with saline and lidocaine, hyperdilute Radiesse is spread over larger zones as a biostimulator rather than a volumiser. It is used to improve crepey, lax skin on the neck, hands and chest — areas where structural collagen, not volume, is what’s needed.
- Best for Neck, hands, décolletage
- Action Collagen stimulation
- Goal Firmer, smoother skin texture
Your Radiesse treatment in Bedford — step by step
Consultation & assessment
Dr Nick will review your medical history, previous aesthetic treatments and any medications or allergies. He will then examine the treatment area, assess your anatomy and discuss what you would realistically like to achieve.
If Radiesse is not the most appropriate option, Dr Nick will explain why and discuss any suitable alternatives.
Personalised treatment planning
Your treatment plan will specify whether standard, diluted or hyperdiluted Radiesse is appropriate, the areas to be treated and the quantity likely to be required.
The expected benefits, limitations, possible side effects and relevant alternatives will be explained before you decide whether to proceed.
Preparation
The treatment area is thoroughly cleansed and marked where necessary. Depending on the product and technique selected, Radiesse may contain lidocaine or be prepared with an appropriate diluent. Additional local anaesthetic may be used where suitable.
Routine allergy skin testing is not normally required, but Dr Nick will check for any relevant allergies or contraindications before treatment.
Precise placement
Radiesse is administered using a needle or cannula at the tissue depth appropriate for the treatment area and intended result.
Standard Radiesse is placed precisely where structural support or contour is required. Diluted or hyperdiluted Radiesse is distributed more widely and evenly when the objective is collagen stimulation and skin-quality improvement.
The injection itself commonly takes approximately 15–30 minutes, although the full appointment will be longer to allow for assessment, preparation and aftercare.
Review and aftercare
Dr Nick will assess the treated area and provide written aftercare instructions before you leave. A follow-up review may be recommended depending on the treatment performed.
Collagen-related improvement develops gradually over the following weeks and months. Further treatment is only recommended when clinically appropriate.
After your Radiesse treatment
Redness, swelling, tenderness, bruising or temporary firmness can occur after treatment. These effects are usually mild and settle over the following days, although bruising or swelling may occasionally take up to two weeks to resolve fully.
For the first 24–48 hours, you will generally be advised to:
- Avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol.
- Avoid saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and excessive heat.
- Avoid applying makeup until the initial injection points have closed.
- Avoid pressing or massaging the treated area unless Dr Nick has specifically instructed you to do so.
- Keep the area clean and follow the written aftercare provided.
Aftercare may differ according to whether standard or hyperdiluted Radiesse has been used and the area treated. You will therefore receive instructions tailored to your procedure.
Contact the clinic urgently if you experience severe or increasing pain, unusual skin discolouration, visual symptoms or any rapidly worsening reaction.
Radiesse vs Sculptra vs Profhilo — which is right for you?
All three improve the skin from within, but they work differently. Dr Nick will help you choose at your consultation.
Radiesse (CaHA)
Immediate lift plus collagen stimulation. Ideal for jawline, jowl and chin contour and structural support. Lasts 12–18 months. Not dissolvable, so precise placement is essential — which is why it’s reserved for doctor-led assessment with Dr Nick.
Sculptra (PLLA)
Poly-L-lactic acid — a pure collagen stimulator with no immediate volume. Works gradually over a series of sessions for diffuse, global volume restoration. A natural alternative when slow, all-over rebuilding is the goal. Another collagen-building injectable we offer is polynucleotides.
Profhilo (HA)
A hyaluronic-acid bio-remodelling treatment focused on hydration and skin quality rather than structural lift — complementary to Radiesse. Explore Profhilo, or our reversible HA dermal fillers if you prefer a dissolvable option.
Is Radiesse right for you?
Radiesse is suitable for
Radiesse may be appropriate for adults seeking improved facial contour, greater structural support or gradual improvement in skin firmness and quality.
It may suit patients who:
- Want greater definition or support in selected areas of the face.
- Have early changes in the jawline, chin, cheeks or lower face.
- Want to improve crepey texture or mild skin laxity.
- Prefer a treatment that combines immediate correction with gradual collagen stimulation.
- Understand that the result is not permanent and that maintenance may be required.
- Have realistic expectations about what injectable treatment can achieve.
The result depends on your anatomy, age, skin quality, degree of tissue laxity and the treatment area. More advanced skin laxity or tissue descent may be better managed with an energy-based treatment or surgery rather than additional injectable product.
When Radiesse is not suitable?
Radiesse may not be appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, where there is active infection or inflammation within the treatment area, or where there is a known hypersensitivity to one of the product’s components.
Additional assessment is required if you have:
- A bleeding disorder or take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication.
- A significant autoimmune or inflammatory condition.
- A history of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.
- A tendency to develop keloid or hypertrophic scars.
- Previous permanent fillers, implants or other treatments in the proposed area.
- A recent illness, infection or medical procedure.
- Unrealistic expectations or a condition that is unlikely to improve with Radiesse.
Radiesse is not used at Rejuvena in the lips, glabella or tear troughs. Dr Nick will review your full medical and treatment history before confirming whether it is suitable.
Side effects and risks
Radiesse has an established safety profile when used in appropriately selected patients and administered by a suitably trained medical practitioner. However, no injectable treatment is free from risk.
Common temporary effects can include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Itching
- Temporary firmness
- Minor asymmetry while swelling settles
Less common complications can include infection, persistent swelling, palpable product, lumps or nodules, delayed inflammatory reactions, skin discolouration and an unsatisfactory cosmetic result.
Rarely, filler can inadvertently enter or compress a blood vessel, causing a vascular occlusion. This can result in reduced blood supply, skin injury and scarring. In exceptionally rare circumstances, injectable filler complications can affect vision.
Unlike hyaluronic-acid filler, Radiesse cannot be dissolved with hyaluronidase. Careful patient selection, detailed anatomical knowledge, accurate placement and the ability to recognise and manage complications are therefore particularly important.
Dr Nick will discuss the relevant risks with you before treatment, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions before providing consent.
Doctor-led Radiesse treatment
Radiesse cannot be dissolved in the same way as a hyaluronic-acid filler. For that reason, every treatment at Rejuvena is personally assessed, planned and performed by Dr Nick, our GMC-registered Medical Director.
His approach is based on careful anatomical assessment, conservative product placement and selecting the correct treatment for the underlying concern. If Radiesse is unlikely to provide the result you want, he will explain this honestly and discuss more suitable alternatives.
Radiesse can’t be dissolved like a hyaluronic-acid filler — so I assess every face carefully, place it precisely, and only treat where it’s genuinely the right choice.
Radiesse treatment is tailored to the area being treated, the amount of product required and whether standard or hyperdiluted Radiesse is used.
Your final treatment plan and total cost will be confirmed following consultation with Dr Nick. You will receive a clear price before treatment, with no obligation to proceed.
Why choose Rejuvena for Radiesse?
Personally performed by Dr Nick
Every Radiesse consultation and treatment is personally undertaken by Dr Nick, a GMC-registered doctor and the Medical Director of Rejuvena.
Detailed anatomical assessment
Treatment is planned around your individual anatomy, tissue quality and facial proportions rather than following a standardised injection pattern.
Standard and hyperdiluted techniques
Radiesse can be prepared and used differently depending on whether the objective is structural support, facial contour or gradual improvement in skin quality.
Honest, realistic advice
If Radiesse is not the right treatment for your concern, Dr Nick will explain why and discuss any more appropriate alternatives.
Medical support and follow-up
You will receive detailed consent, written aftercare and access to medical advice if you have any concerns following treatment.
Trusted in Bedford
Rejuvena is a doctor-led clinic serving patients from Bedford, Kempston, Biddenham, Bromham, Clapham, Wootton, Great Denham, Ampthill, Flitwick, Milton Keynes and across Bedfordshire.
Related treatments at Rejuvena Bedford
Polynucleotides
A regenerative injectable that repairs and rebuilds skin quality — another collagen-supporting option alongside Radiesse.
Learn more →
Profhilo
HA bio-remodelling for hydration and skin quality — complementary to Radiesse.
Learn more →
Dermal Fillers
Reversible hyaluronic-acid fillers — the dissolvable alternative, preferred for lips and tear troughs.
Learn more →Radiesse is often chosen to address ageing, wrinkles & saggy skin, and pairs well with skin tightening for the jawline and neck. View all face treatments at Rejuvena Bedford →
Verified Google reviews
What our patients say
5.0from 161 Google reviews
Very pleased with result. Wanted lip filler without the obvious, overdone look and that’s what I got. I was kept informed throughout and made to feel at ease by Lana and Dr Nick.
Rejuvena repliedThank you very much for your feedback. We are so glad to hear that you like the results from your lip filler treatment. ☺️🙏
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)I’ve had filler on a few occasions over the years with various practitioners, the experience at Rejuvena has been the best and the most comfortable! I felt fully briefed on both procedures and Dr Nick demonstrated great attention to detail. I was particularly reassured by the ultrasound carried out to avoid injecting into any veins and vessels around the temple area. Dr Nick contacted me the next day to check how I was, other practitioners I’ve visited have never followed up. I’m really delighted by the whole experience and with the results. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
Rejuvena repliedDear Liz, thank you very much for your kind review. It means a lot to me that you experienced highest standard of care in the clinic. This is genuinely what we strive for here at t
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)Had the most amazing experience today with Dr Nick and Lana. Had lip and chin filler, couldn’t be more pleased! I now feel more confident with my new side profile! Fantastic service and very professional! Dr Nick really took the time through the consultation to explain the whole process and went into depth about everything with me which made me feel very comfortable. Would absolutely recommend and can’t thank them enough!
Rejuvena repliedThank you very much for your kind review Tayla. We are very happy to hear that you feel confident and have a good experience with us at the clinic. 😊🙏
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)After making some wrong cosmetic decisions over the years, I wanted to prioritise going to somewhere experienced, knowledgeable and skillful and rejuvena clinic is definitely that! I've had filler dissolving and massater Botox with Dr nick, both of which I was very nervous about but they have both gone perfectly. Far better than experiences I've had elsewhere. Looking forward to other treatments in the future. Thank you again
Rejuvena repliedThank you very much for keeping your trust in us Jodie. I am glad to hear you are pleased with your results. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. ☺️🙏
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)Absolutely outstanding an professional medical aesthetic service. Before any treatment began Dr Nick made sure I was fully informed, understood the treatment, discussed my wants and managed my expectations. The treatment itself was comfortable, Dr Nick kept checking i was okay. Showed me the progress as we went. His wife/medical assistant was as sweet and gentle as she is beautiful! Booked now upper wont regret it!
Rejuvena repliedThank you very much for your feedback Ayesha. We are very glad you are happy with our service. Means a lot to us. ☺️🙏
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)Lana delivered my treatment with her usual calmness and professionalism. She makes everything so seamless! Thank you Lana.
Rejuvena repliedThank you so much for your kind review Joanne! We are looking forward to seeing you again! 🙏☺️
Read this review on Google (opens in a new tab)Every review above is published on Google. Tap any card to read it there.
Frequently asked questions about Radiesse
What is Radiesse made from?
Is Radiesse a dermal filler or a biostimulator?
When Radiesse is hyperdiluted, the aim is primarily collagen stimulation and skin-quality improvement rather than volume or projection.
What is the difference between standard and hyperdiluted Radiesse?
Hyperdiluted Radiesse is mixed with a suitable diluent and distributed more widely through the tissues. This reduces its volumising effect and allows it to be used primarily for collagen stimulation and improvement in skin firmness and texture.
When will I see results?
Collagen-related improvement develops gradually, often becoming noticeable from approximately four to six weeks and continuing over the following two to three months. Hyperdiluted treatment should not be expected to produce significant immediate volume.
How long does Radiesse last?
Radiesse is not permanent, and maintenance treatment may be recommended.
How many treatments will I need?
Dr Nick will advise you after assessing your anatomy, skin quality and treatment objectives.
Can Radiesse be dissolved?
Is Radiesse better than Sculptra?
Standard Radiesse provides immediate structural correction alongside collagen stimulation. Sculptra primarily produces a gradual collagen response and is commonly used as a course for broader facial volume restoration.
Dr Nick will recommend the option most appropriate for your anatomy and treatment goals.
Is Radiesse suitable for the lips or under the eyes?
Does Radiesse treatment hurt?
What is the downtime?
Is hyperdiluted Radiesse an off-label treatment?
Where a proposed treatment is off-label, Dr Nick will explain this clearly before you decide whether to proceed.
Is Radiesse safe?
Vascular occlusion is rare but potentially serious. Dr Nick will explain the relevant risks, warning symptoms and aftercare before treatment.
Book a Radiesse consultation in Bedford
Find out whether Radiesse is right for you with a doctor-led assessment by Dr Nick at Rejuvena Bedford. Book online or call us.
